Stamp with multiple movable stamping sections



Jan. 4, 1966 N. MUSKIN 3,

STAMP WITH MULTIPLE MOVABLE STAMPING SECTIONS Filed June 5, 1963 INVENTOR.

NA THAN MUS/(UV United States Patent 3,227,072 STAMP WITH MULTIPLE MOVABLE STAMPING SECTIONS Nathan Mushin, Irairie Clinic, 2692 .I St, Omaha, Nebr. Filed June 5, 1963, Ser. No. 285,835

2 Claims. (Cl. 101-103) This invention relates to stamps and it is a particular object of this invention to provide a stamp having multiple movable stamping sections, each movable independently with respect to a main body portion for the separate independent inking of each section.

A still further object is to provide a stamp as described, the separate sections of which can be independently inked each in a different color, whereby upon movement of each section back into stamping position, a simultaneous stamping by said sections can be accom* plished in one motion with each section stamping a different colored portion of a desired configuration.

A further object is to provide a stamping unit as described which can be operated with one hand, leaving the other hand free for other purposes.

A further object is to provide a stamp as described which can be conveniently held between the thumb and two fingers while the index finger is free to operate tab posts controlling the independent positioning of said stamping sections.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the drawings themselves as the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a way in which the principles of this invention can be applied.

Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the multiple stamp of this invention with stamping section shown in stamping position.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the stamp as seen in section along the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a detail showing the key posts in per spective as they would be seen in FIGURE 2 with other parts removed.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the stamp of FIG- URES l and 2 showing illustrative design printing surfaces.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above-referred-to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

The stamp of this invention is generally indicated at having a main body portion 12 which latter has a lower stamp receiving section 14 and an upper fingergrip section 16.

The lower section 14 has a recess 20 extending upwardly into it from its lower side and the recess 20 has vertical side walls 24 and horizontal upper or inner walls 28.

Multiple movable stamping sections 40 and 42 are each partially disposed within the recess 20,, as best seen in FIGURE 2. The stamping sections 40 and 42 each have vertical side wall surfaces on all sides as seen at 51! and the stamping sections 40 and 42 interfit with each other in a fashion such that they are disposed along side other and preferably fill the recess 20 whereby the outermost vertical surfaces 50 of the stamping sections 40 and 42 engage respective adjacent vertical walls 24 of the recess 20.

To be more specific the outer facing vertical walls 50 of the stamping sections 40 and 42 slidably and movably engage and are guided by the respective vertical Wall surfaces 24 of the recess 21) during vertical movements of the stamping sections 40 and 42.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, each stamping section 40 or 42 has an upper portion 60 and the lower portion 64 or 6-6,.

The lower portions 64 and 66 are formed of a resilient material such as is common practice in stamps. The material used for the lower portions 64 and 66 being embossed on the underside in a way for providing pro-truding elements of a configuration to be printed, for example, dots 8 0 in the section 64 for making simulated stars as shown in FIGURE 4 and the flagstatf 84 on the section 64, and the section 66 having alternate protruding striped portions separated by alternate recessed portions 92 for printing stripes.

The movable stamping sections 40 and 42 need not necessaritly be rectangular and in the example shown in FIGURE 4, the section 42 is somewhat L shaped forextending about two sides of the section 40 in the way that the stripe section of a flag extends around the star section thereof.

The multiple movable sections 40 and 42 are attached to the main body portion 12 by means of key posts and 102 respectively, each post 100 and 102 having an elongated upper end or shank portion of relatively small cross sectional diameter with respect to a lower portion 129 of each post 1M1 or 192, the latter being each disposed in a vertical plane for the most part. Such planes being the same as their upper shank portions 110 with each key pos t formable from key stock. The lower end of each lower portion of each respective key post is shown at 130 and is preferably bent into horizontal position and suitably fixed by suitable means not shown to the top of a respective movable stamping section 40 or 42 as best seen in the example in FIGURE 2.

The upper end of each key post 100 and 102 is provided with a finger tab having a generally horizontal upper surface adapted to be engaged by the index finger of an operator.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the finger-grip section 16 protrudes upwardly from the lower part of the main body portion 14 and has slots therethrough slidably receiving the key posts 100 and 102.

The slots 170 can have wider lower portions opening out from the upwardly protruding portion on two sides thereof as shown in FIGURE 1, to permit the reception thereof of the wider lower portions 120 of the key posts 100 and 102.

Other slots extend through the lower part 14 of the main body portion 12 vertically therethrough for receiving the portions 120 of the key posts 100 and 102.

It will be seen that the slots 1'70 and the slots 190 being connected, together in total form what can be called openings 1%. In this sense, the slots 190 can also be called openings 190 and the slots 170 can be considered to be extensions of the openings 190, whereby the numerals 190 can each alternatively refer to and include the respective slot 170.

Springs 300 around each key post shank 110 and engaging the upper side of the finger-grip section 200 will cause each key post to move upwardly upon release of each key thereby retracting the respective stamping sections.

In operation, and as described, an operator can grip two vertical parallel opposite side surfaces 200 and 202 of the finger grip portion 16 with his thumb and second and third fingers, leaving his index finger free to push downwardly on the key posts 100 and 102.

By pushing down on one key post an operator makes a stamping section independently move downwardly into the position shown in FIGURE 2, where it can be independently inked, and releasing of that key post permits that section to be moved upwardly again into that position shown in FIGURE 1.

Subsequent pushing downward of the other key post will cause the other stamping section to move downwardly for independent inking of a different color, with the said other section having is lower end disposed in a plane offset from the plane of the other section so that no ink of one color becomes accidentally disposed on the other section intended for use with ink of another color.

After retracting upwardly of both stamping sections an operator with one motion can stamp a composite multicolored configuration on a desired surface.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a stamp with multiple movable stamping sections constructed in accordance with my invention is parparticularly well adapted for use, by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification Without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

I claim:

1. A stamp having a main body portion, multiple movable starnping sections attached to said main body portion and each independently movable with respect thereto and with respect to each other whereby under surfaces of said stamping sections can be independently positioned in planes offset from each other whereby said stamping sections can be independently inked in different colors, said stamping sections being placeable such that the under surfaces are in the same plane for simultaneously stamping a multi-colored configuration, said stamping sections each having key posts extending upwardly therefrom, said main body portion having openings therethrough slidably receiving said key posts, the upper ends of said key posts protruding beyond said main body portion whereby an operator can press on said key posts for selectively positioning said moving stamping sections, and resilient means disposed in contact with said main body and in contact with said key posts and urging said key posts upwardly into retracted positions in engagement with said main body portion, the underrnost surfaces of said stamping sections being disposed in the same plane and projecting below the remainder of said stamp at times when said sections are in said retracted positions whereby said stamp is adapted for the simultaneous stamping by each of said sections by a handling of its body portion only without the necessity for manipulating said key posts during stamping.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said main body portion has a finger-grip section protruding upwaudly therefrom, and in which said finger-grip section has generally upright side surfaces on two opposite sides thereof which are spaced apart in positions for the gripping of said finger-grip sections with the operators thumb against one of said side surfaces thereof and with certain of the operators fingers pressed against the other said side surface thereof, said posts having web portions of greater size at their lower ends, said openings slidably and snugly fitting said posts for utilizing the walls of said openings for the guidance of said posts and thereby for the guidance of said stamping sections generally, said posts having an elongated upper shank portion, and a wider lower portion, with the main body portion and the finger portion extending upwardly therefrom being formed with their openings rewiving the upper shank portion and wider lower portion of the posts, respectively.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 443,373 12/1890 McCurdy et al. 101-372 457,304 8/1891 Cross 101-403 X 602,061 4/ 1898 Echelberger 101-202 X 794,800 7/1905 Hill 101-111 1,100,183 6/1914 Hohmann 101-103 1,512,085 10/1924 Clary 101-405 X 2,908,505 10/1959 Towers 10128 X WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A STAMP HAVING A MAIN BODY PORTION, MULTIPLE MOVABLE STAMPING SECTIONS ATTACHED TO SAID MAIN BODY PORTION AND EACH INDEPENDENTLY MOVABLE WITH RESPECT THERETO AND WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER WHEREBY UNDER SURFACES OF SAID STAMPING SECTIONS CAN BE INDEPENDENTLY POSITIONED IN PLANES OFFSET FROM EACH OTHER WHEREBY SAID STAMPING SECTIONS CAN BE INDEPENDENTLY INKED IN DIFFERENT COLORS, SAID STAMPING SECTIONS BEING PLACEABLE SUCH THAT THE UNDER SURFACES ARE IN THE SAME PLANE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY STAMPING A MULTI-COLORED CONFIGURATION, SAID STAMPING SECTIONS EACH HAVING KEY POSTS EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID MAIN BODY PORTION HAVING OPENINGS THERETHROUGH SLIDABLY RECEIVING SAID KEY POSTS, THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID KEY POSTS PROTRUDING BEYOND SAID MAIN BODY PORTION WHEREBY AN OPERATOR CAN PRESS ON SAID KEY POSTS FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIONING SAID MOVING STAMPING SECTIONS, AND RESILIENT MEANS DISPOSED IN CONTACT WITH SAID MAIN BODY AND IN CONTACT WITH SAID KEY POSTS AND URGING SIAD KEY POSTS UPWARDLY INTO RETRACTED POSITIONS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID MAIN BODY PORTION, THE UNDERMOST SURFACES OF SAID STAMPING SECTIONS BEING DISPOSED IN THE SAME PLANE AND PROJECTING BELOW THE REMAINDER OF SAID STAMP AT TIMES WHEN SAID SECTIONS ARE IN SAID RETRACTED POSITIONS WHEREBY SAID STAMP IS ADAPTED FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS STAMPING BY EACH OF SAID SECTIONS BY A HANDLING OF ITS BODY PORTION ONLY WITHOUT THE NECESSITY FOR MANIPULATING SAID KEY POSTS DURING STAMPING. 